US EPA

2753427 

Journal Article 

17 alpha estradiol: separation of estrogen effect on collagen from other clinical and biochemical effects in man 

Meyer, WJ; Henneman, DH; Keiser, HR; Bartter, FC 

1976 

1 

Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology
ISSN: 0034-5164 

13 

4 

685-695 

English 

178033 

In rodents the effect of 17alpha estradiol upon collagen is identical to that of 17beta estradiol, but the 17alpha estradiol effect upon uterine lining is 1/1000 that of 17beta estradiol. Both steroids reverse the effect of D-penicillamine on rodent skin collagen. Five human beings with the skin collagen changes associated with D-penicillamine were treated with 17alpha estradiol for three to six weeks. 17alpha estradiol caused no detectable changes in blood pressure, breast development, menstrual periods, serum liver enzymes, serum proteins, plasma growth hormone, insulin, serum clotting factors, serum triglycerides, serum copper or serum ceruloplasma. In contrast, 17alpha estradiol increased skin prolyl hydroxylase activity, increased soluble collagen content in the skin and increased urinary hydroxyproline excretion. These studies with 17alpha estradiol, point out a specificity difference between the various sites of estrogen action in human beings.